Preparation and photoabsorption characterization of BiFeO3 nanowires

Perovskite-type polycrystalline BiFeO3 (BFO) nanowires (∼50nm in diameter and ∼5μm in length) were synthesized using the anodized alumina template technique. An energy band gap of ∼2.5eV was determined from the UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectrum, and its photocatalytic ability to produce O2 was revealed under UV irradiation. Weak ferromagnetism at room temperature and superparamagnetism at low temperature were observed for the BFO nanowires, different from the antiferromagnetic order in bulk BFO, reflecting the significant size effects on the magnetic ordering of BFO.